AN) Well…happy New Year? I've been gone for far too long, I'm really sorry. This school year has been hectic, but I've been managing. I've been getting help, my anxiety has been getting better. It's still there, but I'm learning how to deal with it, almost how to make it my tool. I'm so glad to be back, I've been busy with Cross Country, Fall Play, band and school. So, I hope all of you have been having an amazing year. I've just recently turned 16, so I get my license tomorrow! Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

The aching in his head had died down. Richard groaned, tightening and untightening his muscles as the light flited through his lids. He was surprised to discover he wasn't strapped down. It was the bed he made, the room that Raven had left him in. The room that started this whole nightmare of withdrawal, drugging and…Jason.

Jason…he didn't even really know Jason, but Richard felt like they were brothers. He felt like Jason would protect him, like Jason would be his friend. Jason, Jason who gave him music, had betrayed him. Richard was shocked. Hadn't Jason removed him from the League, Richard could faintly remember being carried in Jason's arms. Richard squeezed his eyes shut, trying to picture it. Maybe if he could remember, he could convince Jason! Yes! The League had brainwashed Jason like they had brainwashed Richard, if he could remember what Jason had done for him…maybe he could make Jason remember and he would help Richard escape the League!

There were beautiful halls, marble with rich, dark wood lining the walls. Richard gasped, almost being able to smell the bacon cooking in the distance. There was light, glorious light. He felt as if he could touch it. The light looked so real, Richard reached out, almost catching it in his hands.

This. What was this place? Richard clenched his eye shut, focusing as hard as he could. He saw Jason's face, it was young. Thin, kind of pointy—nothing like the Jason he had seen only…hours, maybe, ago. That's what five years could do. His eyes, Richard stared at the image burned into his mind, there was something different about Jason's eyes. The eyes were a deep green, like the Christmas trees. Jason's eyes had been a lighter green that afternoon, like a leaf on a Maple tree. Such different shades, Richard tried to sort it out, he sensed the movement before a word was spoken.

Richard leapt up, hands clutched tightly. His head whipped around to the source, legs set in the sturdiest position. His eyes searched the room before him. His eyes settled on and old man, white hair-blading. A tray was held in his hands, a silver dome arching over the tray, hiding its contents from Richard's curious eyes. Around six foot, looked like he could put up a fight, but he was old and Richard was young, trained and desperate. He tensed, readying a fight-or-flight reaction.

"No need for that." Richard lowered his fists, the accent so familiar to his ear. "Get off the bed, you'll only rumple the covers."

Cautiously he obeyed, reminded of Will in many ways, but there were just as many differences. He kept his fists raised, the man all but rolling his eyes.

"You have no idea how good it is to see you again. I do believe you've grown a tad." The man talked as if Richard knew what was going on, which he obviously didn't. "Well go on, sit down."

The man pulled a table that had appeared in Richard's room during his unconsciousness, the tray balanced in his hand. Richard slowly lowered himself onto the edge of his bed, eyes following the man as he fixed the table between Richard and himself and a chair that had been produced along with the table. Richard drew in a breath, twirling his thumbs over one another.

"Who are you?" He was proud that he hadn't stuttered. The man eyed him, something akin to sadness on his face. Yay, more pity.

"Alfred Pennyworth." Richard nodded, repeating the name to remember it with the face.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was informed that you hadn't had anything at tea time so I figured I would stop by."

Tea time was over, so it was at least past four. Richard nodded, watching quietly was Alfred seated himself, the tray resting between them. The cover was removed, Richard taking in the tea set. It was all silver, expensive. His hands itched to take something from it, maybe one of the small stirring spoons.

"I've brought a few bags," Alfred poured the steaming water into the two cups, "didn't know what you'd prefer. Earl, Green, and of course, Breakfast." Richard nodded, eyeing the Earl. His eyes swept the tray, grabbed by the muffins.

"No biscuits?" He didn't mean to sound rude or ungrateful, but they were a favorite of his.

Alfred gave the softest smile. "Afraid not," he slid the cup over to Richard, the boy dunking a tea bag in the water. "I prefer them as well, but I happen to make these this morning. I believe you'll like them."

Richard took a muffin, Alfred's words seeming to be rather cryptic, but he wasn't sure when he would get food again.

"Banana nut?" Alfred nodded, Richard grinning softly, banana nut was the best. Scott thought it was blueberry but he was wrong.

There was an awkward silence, Richard stirring his tea silently. He wished Alfred would just leave. Master very rarely took tea, so he was normally with the Scotts or Will, but he was often alone. Richard liked being alone, not in the company of strangers who stared at him like they knew him, their eyes piercing through him.

"So…five years' time, you've changed quite a bit."

"I guess." Richard shrugged, he didn't really think much had changed. "I've only grown about four inches." He had wanted to dye his hair blond, but Master had firmly put his foot down.

"Richard, you must forgive me…but it's been so long. And I am so, so sorry." Richard gulped down some of his tea, trying his best to keep his mouth full so he wouldn't have to respond to anything. "I was, we were, heartbroken when you were taken." Richard slowly lowered his cup to the table, trying hard not to blow up at the old man.

"There was nothing bad." He spoke tersely, his accent beginning to slip into his words. "I returned to where I belonged, you must understand that."

Alfred shook his head, "you don't belong to that man, Dickie." The name seemed so strange to him. It had been Richard, Apprentice, boy, mate or even Richard, but such an affectionate pet name hadn't been used on him in years. "You only belong to yourself."

"You clearly don't understand the concept of employment." He mumbled into his tea. His free hand slowly advancing toward the stirring spoon he had placed on the table. This tea proved annoying, so he deserved to steal something to lift his spirits.

"I don't believe that your relationship is one of employment, has there been any formal contract?"

"You don't normally write down a contract for assassination." He scoffed, eyes flickering between the spoon and the man. His fingers inched over the table, pushing the spoon closer to the edge.

"I know how easy it may seem to kill." Alfred's voice was low, his cup still in his hands. "But it can't be pleasant."

"It's not." Richard admitted, he really didn't like it. "It works though. By killing the bad guys, they can't hurt anyone else…because they're dead."

"That's a very interesting point of view." Alfred nodded, taking a sip of his tea. "You're far too young to be worrying about—"

"Killing?" Richard set his cup down. "I'm around the same age as those other heroes, did you tell them they're too young?"

Alfred sighed, setting his cup down as well. "Every time one of those children showed up I would try, but they're so committed to saving the world they wouldn't listen. I found it far easier to be there, ready to help them when they're injured, to cover for them. They may be young, but they have my full support, and the support of each other." The man leaned forward, Richard shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Do you have that support? Do you have people who will talk to you when you're afraid?"

Not really…he had Scott, but he couldn't share everything with Scott. Will liked him, he could talk to Will, but how many times had Richard's words gone straight from Will to Master? "Yes, yes I do."

Alfred nodded, drinking a moment before he smiled at Richard. Smiled, not a smirk or a half-hearted grin, a real smile. Like they were best mates who always took tea together, like they were grandfather and grandson or something. It was unnerving, but at the same time it felt comforting. It almost felt natural.

"I'm very happy to hear that. No one should be alone."

Richard nodded, pulling the spoon closer to himself. Leaning forward he covered the spoon with his elbow and let it fall into his lap. Being alone was nice, he could do as he wished. There wasn't anyone to yell at him, he couldn't disappoint anyone. But being alone was crippling though. He hated it, it hated the only sounds being his breathing, and the only voice his. Richard liked to be alone, but he hated to be isolated.

"I like being alone, but I'm not sure it's because I genuinely like it or if it's because I've been left alone of much." Richard tensed, surprised he had been so open about his emotions. He would argue with these people for days about killing, he would share his thoughts on that, but he had never really shared his personal thoughts with anyone. Not the deep ones at least. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Again, Alfred looked almost sad, Richard hadn't really had anyone be sad for him. Why did he cause such emotions in these people? Why did they care so much about him when he couldn't care less about them? "It is I who should be sorry for what I'm about to tell you." Richard looked up, silently moving the stirring spoon onto the bed beside him. "That man you met earlier, his name is Roy."

"Roy?" Richard raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure that was Jason."

"I wish it was, you have to understand that that was not Jason."

"Why?"

"Richard," Alfred looked like he was near tears, "Jason has been dead for four years."

Richard sat there, staring at Alfred. Jason was…dead? How could he be dead? He was a superhero! They were nearly impossible to kill, Richard knew he had tried. His throat was dry, despite all the tea. His hands were warm, he held them folded together.

"How?" He spat the word out, staring into the teary eyes that sat across from him. There was no lie in them, there was only pain and sadness.

"He sacrificed himself, the Joker…the Joker kidnapped him and—"

"Did what the Joker does." Richard couldn't bring himself to make the man continue. Alfred nodded. "So, Jason didn't betray me." He spoke more to himself than to Alfred, the man looking at him sadly. "That's a plus." His voice was short, he could feel a strange pit of sadness welling up in his chest. He couldn't dare show it in front of someone.

"He was very brave, he cared for you very deeply."

"I know, he took me away from the League." Richard smiled, thinking back to that place. There was Jason's face, there was the light, but there was another face too. Richard looked up, "you were there. That was you!" Alfred nodded, Richard's face lighting up in a smile. "I remembered! I remembered!"

Richard was quite proud of himself, his memory was blurry at best and he had been able to remember that without prompting or anything!

"I've missed you greatly, Richard." Alfred smiled, the sadness still in his eyes.

"I'm terribly sorry about Jason." Richard was truly sorry, he didn't like the pain death brought. Not only to the victim but to all those the victim loved or even just knew.

"I know, thank you." Alfred began to gather up the tea set, placing everything on the tray. "I have to head out, but I'll be sure to see you again." Richard nodded, grateful that he was leaving, but almost excited at the idea of another visit. "I'll leave some tea for you, can't expect you to function too well without it." He smirked, chuckling. "And Richard, the spoon." Alfred held his hand out.

"What spoon?" Richard feigned surprise.

"I've cared for five boys, Jason used to try things like this very often." His hand remained out, both staring each other down. Richard sighed, picking up the silver spoon and handing it over. "Thank you."

Richard grumbled to himself, his fun had been ruined. Alfred smiled at him, this one more of a humorous tone. He turned to leave, leaving Richard alone. All alone in enemy clutches, in the silence of a cell. He stood, daring to say something.

"Can you do me a favor?" He asked, Alfred turning to look at him. "Jason introduced me to music, and I've taken to it…a lot—"

"I'll see what I can do." Alfred smiled. "I'm assuming you have the same preferences he did?"

"I'd figure." Richard shrugged. "Thank you."

"Of course. Have a pleasant evening, Richard."

"You too."

Richard sank back down into his bed, a thin smile on his face. Jason was dead. That seemed to be too painful to be real. He didn't know why he cared so much, his right hand began to warm up, as if someone was holding it. It felt like, maybe in another timeline or universe, he and Jason would've been the closest friends. Maybe even brothers.

AN) I hope you guys enjoyed! I hope I portrayed Alfred correctly, and I hope I can continue to write for you guys! Leave any advice in the comments below. I love you guys so much, I hope you guys have an awesome week!